Photograph print holder for applying a protective coating thereto



Aug. 1, 1961 MAS 2,994,298

0. H. THO PHOTOGRAPH PRINT HOLDER FOR APPLYING A PROTECTIVE COATING THERETO Filed March 19, 1959 g 4 H INVENTOR.

OQQ/A/ 14 72/04/145 A T-TOQ Y United rates Patent 2,994,298 PHOTOGRAPH PRINT HOLDER FOR APPLYING A PROTECTIVE COATING THERETO Orrin H. Thomas, Williamsport, Pa., assignor to Joseph G. aricks, 'Clearfield, Pa. Filed Mar. 19, 1959, Ser. No. 800,455 3 Claims. (Cl. 118500) This invention relates to photography and more particularly to cameras wherein the exposed print is developed within the camera, requiring that the print be treated with a protective coating to render the print permanent.

Quite frequently cameras of the above type are used out of doors where a suitable support for coating an exposed print is not available, or when used indoors, the present support supplants the usual pad required to protect the surfaces of a table top or the like when applying the coating, and it is therefore the cardinal object of the invention to provide a print supporting means for coating the print, as well as a container for storage of coated prints.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a print holder in the form of a binder having a print storage container, upon which a plurality of superposed print supporting frames are swingably connected, each frame having a slotted edge at one end for receiving an edge portion of a print, while the opposite end of the frame is provided with a slot for receiving a tab portion of the print for retaining the print in a fixed position for application of the coating to the print, the storage container being conveniently accessible for coated prints.

Additional objects, advantages and features of inven tion will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combined print support and container.

FIGURE 2 is a similar view of the support and container, illustrating a print support swung to an open position to expose a second print supporting frame upon which a print may be applied and supported during coatmg.

FIGURE 3 is a cross section URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section URE 1, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the swinging end of a print support, illustrating the means for securing the end of a print to be coated.

Reference is first made to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, wherein a combined print coater and storage container is illustrated, generally indicated by the reference character 10, formed as a binder comprising a tray 11 forming a base for the binder, which includes a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, the end and side walls being of corresponding heights, thus presenting the upwardly open tray 11 into which coated prints may be readily stored.

One or more print holders 12 are arranged in superposed relation upon the tray 11, each print holder having an opening in one corner thereof, aligned with a similar opening formed in a corresponding corner of the tray for reception of a pivot pin 13:: which also pivotally or swingably mounts a closure plate 14, positioned above the uppermost print holder 12.

The print holders 12 are of identical construction, and as shown, the holders 12 comprise a fiat sheet member 13 of substantially rectangular formation and of such dimensions as to accommodate a print to be coated, one end portion of the sheet members 13 being provided with a spacer block 15, while the opposite end of the sheet on the line 3-3 of FIG- on the line 44 of FIG- member is provided with a spacer block 15. The spacer block 15 in the present instance having a slot 16 opening inwardly toward and flush with the top surface of the sheet member 13 for a purpose presently to appear.

Each sheet member 12 is further provided with a transversely extending slot or opening 17, positioned medially of the sheet and forwardly of the spacer block 15.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 4, the sheet members 12 are in close contacting engagement with the spacer blocks of the next lowermost sheet member, thereby affording ample support to the sheet member when coating a print, yet the sheet members are spaced apart longitudinally thereof to afford circulation of air over a print which may be secured upon the sheets, for drying purposes, which is of particular value when a number of prints are being processed.

It should also be noted that the sheet member above the tray 11 lies flush upon the upper edges of the tray so that prints deposited therein will be well protected from dust or the like. It will also be seen that provision of a tray permits ready insertion of a tab of the print through the slot 17.

As is known, the print 18 when detached from the film roll includes a tab 19, which together with the slots 16 and 17 function to maintain the print firmly so that the latter may be coated by means of an applicator (not shown).

In use, after an exposure has been made, the print is detached from the film roll in the usual manner. The tab end 19 of the print is inserted in the slot 17 and by slightly flexing the print in an upward direction the opposite end of the print may slide freely upon the surface of the sheet and seat in the slot 15 whereupon the print may assume a flat position upon the sheet 12, and with the print thus secured, the coating may be readily applied to all surfaces of the print including the marginal edges thereof.

While I have shown and described a preferred form of the invention, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in construction as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for photographic exposures requiring the application of a protective coating comprising in combination with an open tray member, a plurality of superposed plate members swingably mounted upon said open tray member, each plate member having a spacer block at opposite ends thereof for supporting the plates in vertically spaced relation with respect to each other and defining an air passage-way between said plates when in superposed relation and each plate having means for securing and releasing a print to and from said plates.

2. A holder for photographic exposures requiring the application of a protective coating comprising in combination with an open tray member, a plurality of superposed plate members swingably mounted upon said open tray member, each plate member having a spacer block at opposite ends thereof for supporting the plates in vertically spaced relation with respect to each other and defining an air passage-way between said plates when in superposed relation, one of said spacer blocks of each plate having a slot opening in the direction of and flush with the surface of each plate member for reception of an edge of a print to be coated and each of said plate members further having a transverse opening medially and forwardly of said other spacer block for reception of a medially positioned tab on the opposite edge of the print.

3. A holder for photographic exposures requiring the application of a protective coating comprising in combination with an open tray member having a bottom wall, a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls, said end and side walls being of corresponding heights to define the upper edges of the tray, a sheet-like print holder swingably mounted upon and above said tray and adapted to rest snugly upon the upper edges of the tray, said sheetlike print holder having a spacer block at opposite ends thereof, one of said spacer blocks having a slot opening in the direction of and flush with the surface of said sheetlike member for reception of one end of a print to be coated and said sheet-like member further having a transverse opening medially and forwardly of said other spacer block for reception of a medially positioned tab on the opposite end of said print and a plurality of similarly constructed print holders being arranged in superposed spaced relation and swingably mounted above said first named sheet-like print holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

